Nba Fines Heat's Carter

MIAMI — Heat rookie guard Anthony Carter was fined $10,000 by the NBA on Saturday for his flagrant foul against Nets guard Elliot Perry in Friday night's 103-85 victory in New Jersey.

The fine is approximately 2.6 percent of Carter's $385,000 salary for this season and cannot be paid by the Heat.

The league cracks down on repeat offenders, and Friday's flagrant foul was the fifth called against Carter this season. But Carter was able to avoid an automatic one-game suspension because the NBA had rescinded one of his earlier fouls.

With the Heat up 101-79 with 2:22 to play, Carter viciously shoved Perry while he was attempting a layup, and Carter was assessed a Type 2 flagrant foul -- the most severe -- which carries an automatic ejection. It was the first ejection for a Heat player or coach this season. Heat coach Pat Riley spoke to Carter after the game and expressed his displeasure.

With one or two points assessed per flagrant foul, a player is suspended when his total exceeds five points.

But Carter's points were reduced to three when his flagrant foul against Phoenix was rescinded last month. Friday's foul puts Carter at five points, and one more flagrant foul of either kind, Type 1 or 2, will earn him an automatic one-game suspension.

Heat forward P.J. Brown has been called for three flagrant fouls, but one has been rescinded.